Thinking about studying but not sure which course is for you? With hundreds of options available, it’s often hard to know where to start. Studying after all, is an investment in your future. We’ve put together a four-step guide to picking the perfect course and set you up for study success!

1. Start with the end in mind

The most important and very first thing you need to think about before enrolling, is why you want to study in the first place?

If you’ve just left high school and are looking for an apprenticeship or traineeship, chances are you will want to study something that puts you in a better position to land one. I’ve you’re a working professional however, you be after a new qualification to help you get a promotion.

It’s always best to think about your experience and skill set. Find a course that either teaches you more about your chosen field or something brand new. There is no point studying a course that contains things you already know about.

Career changers and school leavers looking to start a new career should look for courses that;

• Give you an accredited nationally recognised qualification. Look for the green and red Nationally Recognised Training logo
• Offer work placement or internships
• Include access to the latest industry standard technologies, resources and practices so when you graduate, you’re 100% job ready!

Upskillers looking to gain a promotion or specialise a skill set, should look for courses that;

• Are desired by your employer and offer sort-after skills
• Are highly regarded in your industry
• Offer flexible learning options so you can continue working while you study

A great website to visit is myskills.gov.au

2. Practicality

Time, money and travel are all so important in making your qualification a reality.

Think about how much time you’re able and willing to dedicate to studying. If you don’t work, studying full time is the best way to go to knock it over quickly but if you’re juggling work and family, part-time or courses that offer flexible or online learning options are great.

While the government offers some brilliant funding and subsidies to many Australian’s it’s important you consider the cost of your qualification carefully and what your return on investment might be. In most cases, having a VET qualification will improve your employment prospects and earning potential. As us or your Registered Training Organisation (RTO) if there are incentives for paying upfront or if government study-leans are available. Also, if you’re upskilling, it may be worth asking your employer to foot the bill. There are some incentives in place to assist and if your new skills add genuine value to your workplace this may be considered.

Travel can become an issue if you don’t have your own transport or live in a rural region. Always look into face-to-face and workplace requirements if this is the case. A simple option is to consider a course that can be done completely online.

3. Do your research

Once you’re clear on what you want and need from your RTO, start researching. The most logical place to start is by Googling but don’t forget to attend careers open days, look for taster or pre-apprenticeship or pre-traineeship courses and talk to people to find out their good experiences.

Make sure the organisation you plan on enrolling with is reputable and is offering the most recent version of your qualification.

Also look into what exact units are being offered in each course. Training.gov.au is great for this.